Orbital exenteration in periorbital malignancies.

BACKGROUND: Orbital exenteration is a disfiguring procedure most commonly performed for locally advanced or recurrent periorbital malignancies.
METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 22 patients who underwent orbital exenteration for advanced periorbital malignancy at our institution, by the senior author over a seventeen-year period. Specifically, we have reviewed the tumour histology along with stage at presentation, patient age, history of previous surgical intervention and surgical outcomes. The review highlighted two main groups who required orbital exenteration - patients with recurrent or locally advanced periorbital skin cancers, and patients with malignancy of the sinus.
CONCLUSION: We discuss the presentation and management of the two pathological processes and highlight the importance of aggressive early management of periorbital malignancy with a view to prevention of exenteration and improving survival.